I can honestly say that I have never had any regrets in my life. I have made more than my fair share of mistakes. I have had ups and downs. But I truly believe that I learned something from mistakes I have made. I think that God teaches us lessons from our mistakes and our sad times. I think that all of my mistakes have brought me to the point where I am right now.
But after our recent trip to Lijiang I have one regret. I see it every time I look at the face in this picture.
I cannot look at this picture without choking up. As I am typing my eyes are filled with tears.
We passed this man and his donkey while we were driving around the countryside in Lijiang. I just loved how cute the donkey looks and how cute the man is. We slowed the car down and Michael took a picture and as we started to drive away I noticed the mans socks. He was wearing sock or what was left of his socks and sandals. Literally the whole front of one of his socks was missing. I yell out to Michael, "You should give that guy your socks." Michael was on the other side of the car and did not see what I saw and he was like, "What?" "Do you want me to?" But we had driven further away by the time those few sentences came out and I was like, "No, never mind." And I will regret that decision for the rest of my life.
This picture haunts me. I wish I could find this man and give him a hundred pairs of socks. This picture breaks me.
In the past few years, God has given me a real heart for the poor. Before coming to China I worked in Homeless outreach and Homeless prevention. I loved volunteering at my church. I helped manage the volunteers of a community food pantry in our neighborhood. Michael and I try to be good stewards with our money. But I know that we don't give enough. I know that we should give more.
I believe God calls all of us to help each other and I think that He specifically calls us to help the poor.
In working with people who have less, I have felt they are the ones who are willing to give you the coat off their back. I think the more we have the tighter we clench our fists. I have a drawer full of socks that I hardly ever wear because I don't like wearing socks and yet I did not take the time to give this guy socks.
I never again will make the same mistake.
I know that some people are hesitant to give to "people on the street." Many times I have been told that they are just going to use that money for drugs or alcohol. In China, I have been told that some of the people out begging and have limbs missing are put there by gangs using them to get money.
I don't think it is my place to judge. I know that I cannot give to everyone. I know I cannot help the whole world. But I think that for most of us giving the change out of our pocket or even a few bucks or 10 or 20 is not going to make or break us. I think most of the time we wonder where the cash in our wallet went and we cannot even remember what we spent it on.
But let me tell you that if you pass someone and you feel in your gut you should help them...you should. Don't make the same mistake I did. I think that God calls us all to help in different ways. Maybe you really don't have extra money to give or you are not comfortable giving to people on the street. We can all volunteer our time at a food pantry or soup kitchen. I can tell you from experience, you will gain more than more what you give from the experience.
I was hesitant to share this story that is very personal to me. I did not want to come off as "preachy" or trying to tell you what to do, but I pray that in reading this story you learn from my mistake.
I leave you with a few verses that I hope will inspire you to share what you have with those around you.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward them for what they have done.
- Provers 19:17
Sell your possesions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
- Luke 12:33
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
- Provers 31:9
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
- Hebrews 13:2
But after our recent trip to Lijiang I have one regret. I see it every time I look at the face in this picture.
I cannot look at this picture without choking up. As I am typing my eyes are filled with tears.
We passed this man and his donkey while we were driving around the countryside in Lijiang. I just loved how cute the donkey looks and how cute the man is. We slowed the car down and Michael took a picture and as we started to drive away I noticed the mans socks. He was wearing sock or what was left of his socks and sandals. Literally the whole front of one of his socks was missing. I yell out to Michael, "You should give that guy your socks." Michael was on the other side of the car and did not see what I saw and he was like, "What?" "Do you want me to?" But we had driven further away by the time those few sentences came out and I was like, "No, never mind." And I will regret that decision for the rest of my life.
This picture haunts me. I wish I could find this man and give him a hundred pairs of socks. This picture breaks me.
In the past few years, God has given me a real heart for the poor. Before coming to China I worked in Homeless outreach and Homeless prevention. I loved volunteering at my church. I helped manage the volunteers of a community food pantry in our neighborhood. Michael and I try to be good stewards with our money. But I know that we don't give enough. I know that we should give more.
I believe God calls all of us to help each other and I think that He specifically calls us to help the poor.
In working with people who have less, I have felt they are the ones who are willing to give you the coat off their back. I think the more we have the tighter we clench our fists. I have a drawer full of socks that I hardly ever wear because I don't like wearing socks and yet I did not take the time to give this guy socks.
I never again will make the same mistake.
I know that some people are hesitant to give to "people on the street." Many times I have been told that they are just going to use that money for drugs or alcohol. In China, I have been told that some of the people out begging and have limbs missing are put there by gangs using them to get money.
I don't think it is my place to judge. I know that I cannot give to everyone. I know I cannot help the whole world. But I think that for most of us giving the change out of our pocket or even a few bucks or 10 or 20 is not going to make or break us. I think most of the time we wonder where the cash in our wallet went and we cannot even remember what we spent it on.
But let me tell you that if you pass someone and you feel in your gut you should help them...you should. Don't make the same mistake I did. I think that God calls us all to help in different ways. Maybe you really don't have extra money to give or you are not comfortable giving to people on the street. We can all volunteer our time at a food pantry or soup kitchen. I can tell you from experience, you will gain more than more what you give from the experience.
I was hesitant to share this story that is very personal to me. I did not want to come off as "preachy" or trying to tell you what to do, but I pray that in reading this story you learn from my mistake.
I leave you with a few verses that I hope will inspire you to share what you have with those around you.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward them for what they have done.
- Provers 19:17
Sell your possesions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
- Luke 12:33
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
- Provers 31:9
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
- Hebrews 13:2
Thank you for sharing your personal feelings. Makes me realize how fortunate we have it.
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